UPDATE: Doctor facing 22 charges in new indictment
A doctor accused of overprescribing pain medicine, leading to one patient's death, is facing additional charges.
The grand jury's superseding indictment (replaces previous indictment) was released Thursday and it includes 22 charges.
Muhammed Samer Nasher-Alneam, M.D., ran the Neurology and Pain Center in the 400 block of Division Street in Charleston as well as a medical practice in the 4500 block of MacCorkle Avenue. A grand jury found that Nasher-Alneam prescribed painkillers “not for legitimate medical purposes."
He previously faced a 15-count federal indictment. Now, Nasher-Alneam is charged with 14 counts of illegal drug distributions, two counts of distribution causing death, two counts of maintaining a drug involved premises, and four counts of international money laundering.
The indictment includes the initials of patients he prescribed the drugs to, the locations, and the dates. At least eight different patients are on the list and the dates range from 2013 to 2017.
According to the indictment, the doctor wire transferred at least $289,000 to Istanbul, Turkey over several years. Most of the money was transferred in 2014.
A doctor accused of overprescribing pain medicine, leading to one patient's death, will remain in custody ahead of his trial.
A federal judge entered an order of detention pending trial Friday for Muhammed Samer Nasher-Alneam, M.D.
Nasher-Alneam ran the Neurology and Pain Center in the 400 block of Division Street in Charleston as well as a medical practice in the 4500 block of MacCorkle Avenue.
A grand jury found that Nasher-Alneam prescribed painkillers “not for legitimate medical purposes." According to the indictment, that led to one patient dying from oxycodone use.
The order of detention states that Nasher-Alneam's mom and five brothers live in Turkey -- a place the suspect has visited. It also states Nasher-Alneam has traveled outside of the United States (to United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Malaysia) several times for various reasons.
Court documents say Nasher-Alneam delivered his U.S. passport to his attorney, "but there are some questions concerning the location and validity of his Syrian Passport that was not revealed to the probation officer during his initial interview. In addition, the defendant was not forthright and truthful to the probation officer concerning his ownership of various properties and financial assets."
Nasher-Alneam's trial is set to begin Oct. 2.
In the meantime, the judge ordered him to be in the custody of the Attorney General "or to the Attorney General's designated representative for confinement in a corrections facility separate, to the extent practicable, from persons awaiting or serving sentences or being held in custody pending appeal."
A medical doctor from Charleston pleaded not guilty Wednesday to charges in a 15-count federal indictment that alleges he overprescribed pain medicine, leading to one patient's death.
Muhammed Samer Nasher-Alneam, M.D., ran the Neurology and Pain Center in the 400 block of Division Street, as well as a medical practice in the 4500 block of MacCorkle Avenue.
A grand jury found that Nasher-Alneam prescribed painkillers “not for legitimate medical purposes." That ended up with the death of one patient from oxycodone use, according to the indictment.
On Wednesday, several witnesses took the stand to testify during a bail hearing.
Nasher-Alneam's trial is set to begin Oct. 2.
A medical doctor from Charleston is named in a 15-count federal indictment that alleges he overprescribed pain medications, leading to the death of one patient.
Muhammed Samer Nasher-Alneam, M.D., ran the Neurology and Pain Center in the 400 block of Division Street, as well as a medical practice in the 4500 block of MacCorkle Avenue, according to the indictment from the Southern District of West Virginia. That indictment was unsealed Thursday.
A grand jury found that Nasher-Alneam prescribed painkillers “not for legitimate medical purposes." That ended up with the death of one patient from oxycodone use, according to the indictment.
The indictment also alleges that Nasher-Alneam overprescribed painkillers during a five-year period -- from 2013 to this year.
Nasher-Alneam's attorney Mike Hissam released this statement Friday:
"Although we certainly understand that the United States Attorney is eager to lay blame for the opioid crisis, Dr. Nasher maintained a state-approved clinic to help West Virginians who were suffering with real pain. He looks forward to clearing his name in court."
Nasher-Alneam's arraignment is set for Aug. 3.
